UFC 302 recap - Islam Makhachev retains lightweight title against Dustin Poirier, Sean Strickland defeats Paulo Costa
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Updated 02/06/2024 at 06:39 GMT
It was a pulsating night of UFC action in Newark, New Jersey, as Islam Makhachev puts his lightweight title on the line against Dustin Poirier. Makhachev showed why he is currently ranked as the best fighter in the entire UFC. Poirier put up a superb fight in the what he suggested may be the last contest of the 35-year-old's 40-fight career.
Islam Makhachev wants double champ shot at Leon Edwards or Belal Muhammad
Image credit: Eurosport
Thanks for following the action with us...
It has been another fine night of . You can watch all the action again on discovery+.
Join us again for UFC 303, with the 'Return of the Mac', as Conor McGregor faces Michael Chandler on TNT Sports Box Office on June 29.
Poirier suggests this might be final contest
"I know I can compete with the best of these guys but if I do fight again, what am I fighting for? Just to fight? I've done that 50 times," Dustin Poirier said on TNT Sports.
"I've got to see but I think this might be it."
Makhachev eyes title in second weight division
Makhachev submits Poirier in Round 5
Poirier did a great job of getting out of potential leg locks and a lead right, then a southpaw left hand appeared to hurt Makhachev, but he was taken down and eventually the Dagestan champion locked in a D'Arce choke which made the American tap.
Makhachev-Poirier: Round 4
The first two minutes is a stand-up battle with Makhachev looking to show he can beat Poirier at his own speciality. After a couple of brutal right hooks he forces Poirier to the Octagon. The American gets up and lands big right hands opening up a cut on the Dagestan fighter's forehead and then landing combinations to the body. The two have words at the end of the round. I think Poirier takes that. With these judges tonight who knows what this could mean?
Makhachev-Poirier: Round 3
Makhachev takes control with a high knee landing on the nose and he mixes with a straight combination before taking the American down to the mat. Poirier gets out and when back to his feet throws a combination bringing the crowd to their feet with USA chants. Poirier's left eye seems to be impeding him and from the southpaw stance Makhachev keeps landing, but so did the Diamond in the last moment of the round.
Makhachev-Poirier: Round 2
Makhachev's corner worked on a cut on his eye before he comes out for the second. A couple of times Makhachev took Poirier down but the American escapes to the delight of the crowd. Poirier has some success with his strikes and forces Makhachev back in the final minute of the round, but Makhachev has another takedown in the closing seconds.
Makhachev-Poirier: Round 1
Immediately Makhachev lands a three-punch combination, then takes his opponent on his back with a single-leg takedown. Poirier escapes a kimura but remains on the mat for four minutes. Round one to the champion.
The Main Event is next...
The pound-for-pound #1 and lightweight king Islam Makhachev takes on Dustin 'The Diamond' Poirier, fresh from his great win over Benoit Saint Denis.
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Strickland wins split decision!
He took the fight 50-45 and 49-46 on two cards, with Costa taking the other 49-46. The cards this evening have been skewed all night.
Strickland-Costa: Round 5
Costa begins the round well, but Strickland imposes his will in the middle stages of the round, albeit without landing too much - with the fans booing at times due to the lack of interaction. Costa landed the more strikes in the round, the only time he managed it in the fight but after the Brazilian stung Strickland he bounced back with a flurry and three head kicks which may have swung him the round.
Strickland-Costa: Round 4
Costa is having a better round, landing a couple of right hands and finding the target with low kicks again and though Strickland is still landing with the more volume, he probably lost that one.
Strickland-Costa: Round 3
Costa was hurt with a leg kick and does not have the energy to move away from Strickland anymore. Costa lands with a couple of strikes but he is more concerned about getting out of range himself, with Strickland's strikes having more effect.
Strickland-Costa: Round 2
The fight remains with the same pattern and Costa gets some boos for his backing away. Strickland's strikes are having some effect on Costa whose eyes are puffing and saw him touch the mat with his hands. Costa has had some success jabbing the body and with calf kicks, but is likley two-down.
Strickland-Costa: Round 1
Strickland makes Costa fight on the back foot. Costa lands some nice calf kicks but is draining his energy moving backwards and gets dropped by a right hand in the last minute of the round.
The co-main event is up next
#1 Sean Strickland (28-6) faces #7 Paulo Costa (14-3)
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Holland stops Oleksiejczuk in Round 1
Oleksiejczuk lands with a huge left hand which drops Holland but the American locks in an arm bar which appears to break the Pole's arm. He wanted to fight on but the referee called a halt to the action.
Holland-Oleksiejczuk next
Kevin Holland returns to middleweight to fight rising Pole 'Hussar' Michal Oleksiejczuk.
Price wins unanimous decision!
He takes the fight 29-28 on all three scorecards.
Price-Morono: Round 3
Price with a good uppercut, then takedown midway through the round and though Morono got back to his feet he was exhausted and a spent presence. Surely Price has this.
Price-Morono: Round 2
Morono landed a number of rights but were not having too much effect and when Price landed his own it was more momentous followed by a takedown. All to play for in the third.
Price-Morono: Round 1
Morono with the better of the first round, with Price's corner calling for more action.
Welterweight rematch next!
Nico 'Hybrid' Price and Alex 'The Great White' Morono. Price won when they faced off seven years ago but the result was made a no-contest after he tested positive for cannabis.
Brown wins by unanimous decision!
Brown won 29-28 on all three scorecards.
Brown-dos Santos: Round 3
A big knee from Brown opens up a cut on Dos Santos. He follows up with a strong jab. Dos Santos takes Brown down in the closing moments, but the Jamaican has probably taken this.
Brown-dos Santos: Round 2
Dos Santos lands a big right hand that has Brown reeling and takes his opponent down. Dos Santos has a body lock against the Octagon but Brown escapes from choke attempt and in the final 30 seconds reverses to get position on the Brazilian's back and then delivering brutal elbows.
Brown-dos Santos: Round 1
The referee controversially doesn't give dos Santos time to recover from an eye poke. At the end of the round dos Santos ate a big knee lift.
Brown-dos Santos up next
A battle between Jamaican middleweight (18-5) and veteran Brazilian (24-7-1).
The main card is next!
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Kopylov wins split decision!
A surprise one judge had the contest 29-28 to Almeida, one to Kopylov by the same score and another in the Russian's favour 30-27.
Almeida-Kopylov: Round 3
Kopylov puts Almeida down with a right hand and also takes down the Brazilian maintaing control for over three minutes. He has clearly won the contest.
Almeida-Kopylov: Round 2
Kopylov still dominating, this time on the ground with Almeida on his back for the majority of the round.
Almeida-Kopylov: Round 1
A good round for Kopylov, showcasing his hand skills leaving Almeida's face swollen and taking the Brazilian down in the closing stages.
The other Almeida up next...
Cesar Almeida takes on Roman Kopylov in the middleweight division.
Almeida stops Romanov in Round 1
Jailton Almeida is in tears at the end of the bout after a rear-naked choke saw the Russian tap.
Almeida-Romanov up next...
The #7-ranked Brazilian heavyweight goes into the bout the favourite against his Russian opponent (13th).
Dawson wins by unanimous decision!
Dawson wins by 30-27 on two cards and 29-28 on the third.
Dawson-Solecki: Round 3
Solecki lands a low blow early but then Dawson gets his third takedown from three attempts in the contest. Almost the entire fight on the ground. Not an exciting fight but a big win for Dawson.
Dawson-Solecki: Round 2
Dawson got Solecki down at the start of the round again and landed a number of blows.
Dawson-Solecki: Round 1
Compelling first round. Dawson raced over and launched into a knee lift. Solecki was taken down but avoided taking much damage on the ground.
Up next: Dawson-Solecki
A lightweight contest between two 30-year-old fighters both needing victory to get into big fights again.
Matthews wins unanimous decision!
The opening prelim of the night is taken by Matthews 29-28 (twice) and 30-27.
Hello and Welcome...
Thanks for joining our coverage of UFC 302. We will be with you through all the major action from New Jersey, beginning with the prelims and going through to the main card, ending with the lightweight title contest between Islam Makhachev-Dustin Poirier.
The action is live now on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
What time does UFC 302 start in the UK? Full fight card
Live coverage of the prelims starts at 1am on Sunday, June 2, with the main card following at 3am.
The early prelims kick off at 11:15pm on Saturday night, and can be seen on UFC Fight Pass.
Main card:
Islam Makhachev v Dustin Poirier
Sean Strickland v Paulo Costa
Kevin Holland v Michal Oleksiejczuk
Niko Price v Alex Morono
Randy Brown v Elizeu Zaleski
Prelims:
Cesar Almeida v Roman Kopylov
Jailton Almeida v Alexandr Romanov
Grant Dawson v Joe Solecki
Phil Rowe v Jake Matthews
Early prelims:
Mickey Gall v Bassil Hafez
Ailin Perez v Joselyne Edwards
Mitch Raposo v Andre Lima
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